Leesburg Police say new leads are helping them recreate a timeline for Melinda Duckett's whereabouts, the weekend her 2-year-old son vanished from his home.Police say, so far they know that on August 26, Melinda and Trenton Duckett were last seen reportedly at her grandparent’s home in the Villages, at 4 p.m. That is where the time lapse begins.
Investigators are now trying to piece together where the pair was from 4 p.m. August 26 until the evening of August 27. Right now Leesburg Police say two credible sources reportedly saw Melinda Duckett at separate locations without Trenton on August 27, just hours before the toddler was reported missing. Capt. Steve Rockefeller said, "The first sighting is of Melinda was at a Leesburg business around 8 a.m. Sunday morning without Trenton. The person reporting this information was interviewed and is familiar with Melinda by sight but did not know her personally. The second sighting was of Melinda seen walking from her car to her apartment on Sunday around 3 p.m. without Trenton. The individual reporting this information knows Melinda on an acquaintance basis. Police are now asking anyone who may have seen or babysat Trenton during either of the two time frames just mentioned, to report to the proper authorities at 1-800-CALL-FBI
Monday was another day of searching and still no sign of Trenton. Despite searches in numerous locations very few clues about what happened to him have turned up. Capt. James Pogue from the Marion County Sheriff's Office said, "A lot of the area especially the areas that are close to Farles Lake we've searched three or four times."Investigators hope another look will bring them closer to Trenton Duckett. A tipster reported seeing Melinda Duckett in the area on the day her son disappeared. Divers plunged into the murky waters looking for clothes, toys or anything belonging to the missing toddler. Ground crews armed with machetes marched into the surrounding woods. "We're used to this type of terrain. We've worked these types of cases before. This is nothing new to us. We have the tools and the equipment and the manpower to be able to do it," Capt. Pogue said.Leesburg police tell News 13 that on Saturday, they had 17 canine search teams from Marion County, Search and Rescue of Central Florida and Sarasota Seach and Rescue helping with the search. In addition, they had around 100 searchers and support personnel on site looking for Trenton Duckett or any evidence of his whereabouts.
However, part of the problem with searching the water is that it is murky and there is a natural impediment, alligators. Police say it takes a special person to go down into that type of water with that kind of circumstances and they truly appreciate all of the help the divers are providing.On Sunday, Marion County and Lake County dive team members continued searching Farles Lake. Searchers covered the ground they wanted to cover yesterday, so no ground searching is planned for today. Searchers covered a 6 mile stretch of forest road 595 and a 5 mile stretch of 588.
Leesburg investigators, F.B.I., and F.D.L.E. officials are spending today regrouping, debriefing, and following up additional leads described as routine. Police will not speculate on that direction as this will likely take a few days.In another part of the investigation, the Marion County Sheriff's Office has requested that the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission try to catch an 8-foot alligator in the same lake where they are search for Trenton Duckett.
The alligator has not posed a threat to the divers and is not suspected in the disappearance of Trenton Duckett, however investigators want to rule out any possibilities.An alligator trapper is going to attempt to trap the gator this evening. If any alligators are caught, their stomachs will be examined for any evidence such as bone, fabric and hair remnants.
Again, investigators are asking anyone with information on Trenton Duckett's whereabouts to call the Leesburg Police Department or call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI
News 13 will continue to bring you the latest on the Trenton Duckett Investigation as information warrants.
http://cfn13.com/StoryHeadline.aspx?id=18724
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